Cut-off for slide-valves



(No Mdel.) A 3 sheets-'sheet if WILK ES. n

' GUT-UFF FR SLIDE VALVES:

No? 501,394. "Patented July '11,' 1893.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 M. WILKE'S.

GUT- QPF FOR SLIDE VALVES.

N0. 501,394. Patented July 11, 1893.

' UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES WILKES, OF TRENTON, NEI/V JERSEY.

CUT-OFF FOR SLI DE-VALVES.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,394, dated J'uly 11, 1893.

Application filed September 1, 1892*. Serial No. 444,779. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Moens W1LKEs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Out-OES for Slide- Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic cut offs for the slide valves of steam engines; and it consists substantially in such features of arrangement, construction, and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a very simple, effective, and comparatively inexpensive arrangement of mechanism for ac complishing the ends desired, substantially as will more fully hereinafter appear when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l represents a vertical section, taken longitudinally, of the 'set of mechanism embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a top or plan view. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal side elevation 3 and Fig. 6 is a View in detail in perspective of the automatically rising and falling wedge controlled by the governor, and which serves to regulate the degree of movement or action of the main operating devices.

In carrying my invention into effect I construct my improved cut o mechanism of a suitable main supporting frame which in use is mounted in proper manner in its place; and this frame I form with side projections or arms in the ends of which certain rockingshafts have their bearings. The said rockingshafts carry at one of their ends corresponding crank-arms which are connected by a rod and one of said arms has also connected thereto a rod from or through the medium of which the parts are operated from the slide valve; also working on or fastened to each of said rocking-shafts is a vibrating lever, the two alternating with each other in giving the desired lifting action to the alternately vertically moving toes which move and co-operate with the spring-actuated rising and falling rod or stem vhereinafter more fully referred to. The arrangement of the vibrating levers andthe connecting-rod is such that in the working of the engine an alternate movement will be imparted to such levers, and the vertically moving toes will be caused to alternate in giving to the vertical rod or stem a lifting action, the said rod orstem being provided with a sleeve or flange against which the toes actin operation.

In order to regulate the action of the toes through the governor of the engine, a rising and falling or automatically sliding wedge is used, which wedge surrounds the vertical stem, and, as the vertically moving toes abut against the same (which latter are beveled on' the inner sides) the rise and fall of the vertical rod or stem is effected, and the stroke accordingly regulated. There is a cross bridge or topi-piece between which and a plate on the rod works a spiral sprin g which serves to again depress the rod when elevated; and besides this there are certain springs which exert a constant pressure against the toes so as to always preserve the latter in proper Working connection. The toes are formed or provided on their inner surfaces with projections which work against the plate on the rod and by the alternate action of the toes the said rod is caused to rise and fall as hereinafter specified.

Reference being had to the several parts of the drawings by the letters marked thereon A, A, represents the two sides of the frame in which my improved mechanism is supported; the said frame'being formed or provided with the side extensions a, a, which constitute bearings for the rock-shafts B, B, the said rock-shafts each carrying at corresponding ends a crank'arm b, which arms are connected by a rod c, so that when motion is imparted to one rock-shaft it will be transmitted to the other. The said rock-shafts are given a rocking movement through the medium of a rod .O which is, as shown, attached to one of the crank arms b, and which is operated from the valve of theV engine. Furthermore the said rock-shafts are each provided with a lever d, each of which levers is connected with a vcr tically moving toe e, the said toes being caused Ico t0 alternate in a vertical plane due to the action of the rocking-levers and the described lever connections. The said toes are beveled on their inner surfaces at their upper ends as shown at e and they are, besides, formed on their inner sides or surfaces with projections f,f, which serve to lift the vertical rod hereinafter more specifically referred to. These toes are constantly pressed upon inwardly by means of springs g, g, which are secured at their lower ends to cross-pieces 0r strips h, 71 which connect the two sides of the frame, and the said springs serve to always maintain the said toes in working connection with the vertically moving spring actuated rod.

Working centrally between the two sides of the frame and intermediate of the toes hereinbefore referred to is a rod or stem D, having a spring cushion 7l at its lower end and being surrounded about its upper portion with another or retracting spring j, the said rod having its bearings in an upper cross-piece or bridge la, and workin g at its lower end in bearings Z. The said spring j has its bearings between the upper bridge or cross-piece of the frame and a plate or iange m secured upon the'rod, and whenever the said rod is caused to be elevated it will again be lowered by the action of the said retracting spring. Surrounding the said rod at its upper end is a frame E formed at its bottom with a wedge n the beveled sideso, o, of which work against the inner beveled'sides of the toes hereinbefore referred'to; the said frame E being that portion of the device to wliichthe governor of the engine is supposed to be attached. It will lbe evident that as the speed of the engine is increased or diminished the action of the governorwill cause the said wedge/nl to rise or fall accordingly and, as a consequence, the greater or less Will be the movement ot the vertical rod. It is in this way that the cut-off is effected, and it will be seen in what waythe desired results are accomplished. As the engine or valve continues to work the rock-shafts will be Ycaused to rock in their bearings, due to the connections hereinbefore described, and the vertical rod will be caused to rise and fall in a manner which will beV 'changeability can always be effected, thus rendering the device or mechanism inexpensive entirely, comparatively.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In an automatic cut-ol for steam engines, a vertically moving spring restored rod provided with a Vtlange,a pair of movable springpressed toes provided on their inner faces with projections for engaging the flange and elevating the rod, a movable frame or wedge working in connection with thetoes and supported upon the rod, and a pair of rock-shafts and lever connections for alternately operating said toes, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic cut-off for steam engines,

the combination of the spring restored rod provided with the flange, the movable wedge or frame working on said rod, the vertically moving and alternating toes providedfon their inner surfaces with `projections whichengage vthe iiange, the rock-shafts and their cranks,` `the levers connecting said rock shafts with i toes, and the rods which connect said'cranks and operate Vthe rock shafts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

MOSES W-ILKES. Witnesses:

HARRY WILKES, JOHN C. SoULLIoN. 

